The Floating Doctors:
Sailing to Save Lives
By bringing the two greatest passions in my life
together, my crew and I have found a solution to many
of the challenges that face traditional medical missions—
transport, storage, food, power, water, and housing.
– Dr. Benjamin La Brot
Jake Fish, US SAILING
It all started in Tanzania, 2005 with Four years later, La Brot, head of Melanesia. The Southern Wind has the
an empty backpack once filled with a nonprofit group called the Floating capacity to travel over 250 miles by
medical supplies. An aspiring American Doctors will set sail this week for a harnessing energy from the wind and
medical student was burdened with a year-long medical mission aboard a sun.
sense of frustration when his supplies 76-foot sailboat that carries 15 crew This week, La Brot spoke with
ran dry and scores of sick and injured members and 20,000 pounds of medical US SAILING on the Floating Doctors’
villagers were left untreated. Dr. supplies. The Floating Doctors will sail mission:
Benjamin La Brot (Topanga, Calif.) to 15 countries in Latin America and
remembers treating those with wounds, the Pacific Islands. They will not rely US SAILING: What inspired you to
infections, and other ailments at the on ground and air transportation. The start the Floating Doctors program?
Masai Village. But what he remembers crew embarked on their trip on Nov. 1
most about his trip is running out of from St. Augustine, Fla. in their boat, Dr. Benjamin La Brot: My last trip to
medication and supplies before having Southern Wind, donated by a Florida Africa made me determined to go back
the chance to treat the entire village. couple. The customized expedition to the developing world and bring more
This powerless, overwhelming feeling boat was originally built in Ventura, help, and as they say, ‘do what you
served as motivation for the 33-year- Calif. in 1981. The volunteer crew has know’—and what I know is medicine
old doctor to plan for a new mission; repaired the old boat, which is now and the sea. By bringing the two greatest
a mission that transcends the concept a fully functioning mobile medical passions in my life together, my crew
of providing effective aid and relief vehicle. They will visit Haiti, Belize, and I have found a solution to many
on an international scale that is both Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, of the challenges that face traditional
economically and environmentally Panama, Tuamotu Archipelago, Tonga, medical missions—transport, storage,
friendly. the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and food, power, water, and housing. As
www.neilprydesails.com
load path multihulls classic sails offshore spec one design
Rush Sails Scott Rush 206-719-8436
rushsails@aol.com
48° No r t h , Ja N u a r y 2010 Pa g e 64
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